B.J. Ward blocked two field goals for the Seminoles (5-0, 4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), who got rushing touchdowns from three players and improved to 12-0 in the series.

Chris Douglas had a 10-yard touchdown run in the first quarter for Duke (2-3, 0-2), which lost a record 27th straight ACC game.

Florida State scored touchdowns on its first three drives and took a 28-7 halftime lead.

The Seminoles widened their lead three plays into the second half in unusual fashion. Nicholson scooped up Mike Schneider’s fumble at the Blue Devils 23, fumbled it en route to the end zone, but picked it up in stride and scored. He was credited with a 3-yard TD return for a 35-7 lead.

Cromartie added a 71-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

Things won’t get much easier for the Blue Devils. After winning two straight games for the first time in five years, they have lost two straight heading into a stretch that includes home games against Wake Forest and North Carolina State, and road games at Maryland and Tennessee. All four teams have been ranked this season.

The Seminoles had 157 yards on their first 15 plays, including a 53-yard run by Greg Jones and a 50-yard pass from Rix to Donnie Carter, en route to a 14-0 first-quarter lead.

On its first drive, Florida State marched 80 yards in five plays – keyed by Jones’ big run – to take a 7-0 lead on a 6-yard run by B.J. Dean just 97 seconds into the game.

Florida State’s next drive went 92 yards, ending with a 2-yard run from Jones with 6:30 left in the quarter. The Blue Devils aided that drive with a roughing-the-kicker penalty, giving the Seminoles a first down.

Duke responded with an 82-yard touchdown drive, ending with Douglas’ 10-yard score that cut the deficit to 14-7 with 1:17 left in the quarter.

But Florida State wouldn’t let Duke build any momentum. Cromartie returned the ensuing kickoff 62 yards, and the Seminoles pushed the lead to 21-7 onWillie Reid’s 1-yard run on the first play of the second quarter.

Just before halftime, Rix completed a 43-yard TD pass to Craphonso Thorpe, who outjumped a defender to make a spectacular catch, for the 28-7 lead at the break.

Duke had its chances to keep the game close, but came up empty on two second-quarter drives. On the first, Ward blocked Brett Garber’s 43-yard field-goal attempt. On the second, Schneider lost a fumbled to end a 53-yard drive. Ward also blocked Garber’s 42-yard attempt in the third quarter.